Improvement in water-wheels



2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

F. w. Tui-13K, 1r.

Water-Wheels.

Patented Aug. 25,1874.

INVENTUB WITNESSES ATTUBNEYS.

THE GRAPHIC COAPHOTULITWBSS 4l PARK PLACE: N-Y^ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-WHEELS. l

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,532, dated August 25, 1874; application filed July 18, 1874.

To all whom .it may concern: Y case. The flanged lower edge of the case D' A Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. TUERK, Jr., of Berlin, in the county of Waterloo, Province Vof Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Water-Wheels, of which the following is a' specitication:

Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a horizontal section of my improved wheel, taken through the line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is a horizontal section of the same, taken through the line z z, Fig. 3. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a side view of the same, partly in vertical section through the line .n w x, Figs. l and 2. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a detail view, showing the manner in which the buckets are hinged to the rim of the wheel. Fig. 6, Sheet 2, is a view showing a modification `of the Same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved water-wheel -which may be run with a very low head of water, and which shall be freei'rom back-pressure and waste, and will thus utilize almost the en tire force of the water. The invention consists in the coinbination of curved and pivoted buckets with the wheel, having wedge-shaped recesses in its rim; in the wedge-shaped recesses formed in the rim of the wheel beneath the upper part of the buckets, in connection with the curved slots in the partition-plate, provided with the two sets of openings and the ring-flange, in combination with the parts ot' the case and with the wheel and in the combination of the sliding plates or gates, the cross-arm, the curved and toothed cross -Vhead, the gearwheel, and the shaft and hand-wheel with the case, for regulating the size of the dischargeorices of the case, as hereinafter fully described.

A is the lower part of the case, which is attached to and supported by a suitable framework, so that the outowin g water may pass off without obstruction. B is the wheel, the hub of which is attached to the shaft C, from which motion is communicated to the machinery to be driven. D is the upper part of the case, into which vthe water is admitted through the chute E, which enters a hole in the top of said is bolted to the hanged upper edge of the case A, a partition, F, being interposed between them, and secured by the bolts that secure the parts of the case to -each other. In the opposite parts of the partition F, and directly over the outer edge of the rim of the wheel B, are formed two narrow slots, f, which are curved upon the arc of the said rim. In the partition F, a little in the rear of the slots f1, and in the forward part of lthe side enlargements of the parts A D of the case, are formed large openings, f2, through which the main body of the water passes to drive the wheel. To the partition F, between the openings f1 f2, is attached a ring-flange,'f3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. b1 are the buckets, which are curved in the form of the rim of the wheel B, so as -to fit into shallow recesses in the outer surface of said rim, and leave their outer surfaces iiush with the outer surface of said rim.Y Upon the concaved side of the inner edges of the buckets b1 are formed cylindrical ribs, which lit into similarly-shaped recesses formed in the rim of the wheel B at the forward edges of the recesses that receive the buckets b1, and which are so formed that the buckets b1 may be shut down upon said rim or opened out at an angle with said rim, as shown in Fig. 2. The buckets b1, when opened out, are supported against the pressure of the water by resting against the front and rear sides of the recesses in which their cylindrical ribs rest, the rim of the wheel B thus supporting the entire strain. The buckets b1 are kept in place by small capplates attached to the upper and lower edges ofthe rim of the wheel B, so as to cover the ends of the cylindrical ribs of said buckets. To these cap-plates are attached short pivots, which enter holes in the ends of the cylindrical ribs of the buckets, to diminish the friction as 4the said buckets move out and in. In the rim of the wheel B, beneath the upper parts of the buckets b1, are formed wedgeshaped recesses b2, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This form adapts them for the admission of water beneath the free ends of the buckets, as the latter in the revolution of wheel B come successively opposite the inlet-opening, thus causing the buckets to be instantly opened outward to receive the full impact of the water.

Uponthe inner surface ot the middle-parts of the enlargements of the case A D are formed flanges Gf, which project inward and forward, so that their inner or forward ends may rest against the rim of the wheel B, vand serve as chutes to guide the water to the buckets. v The lower end of the shaft C revolves upon a lig-- num-vitee step, H, which is fitted into a metallic cup, I, which rests in a socket in the center of the spider J, the arms of which are connected with the bottom of the case A. K is a set-screw, which passes in through the .Center oi' the spider J, and the end of which rests against the center of the bottom of the step-cup I, so that by turning the said screw the shaft C and wheel B may be raised and lowered to adjust the wheel B, as required. In the bottom of the case A, just in the rear of the iianges or chutes G, are formed the discharge-openings, so that'the water must make a half-circuit before it can escape; The discharge.- openings are coveredfwith sliding plates or gates L, which slideV in ways attached to the `bottom of the" cas'eA, and to them are attached the ends'ot'jtliecross-bar M,-in the center of which is formedla hole to receive the lower end of the hub ofthe lspider J, so that the two plates or gatesmaya'l'ivays move together. Upon one end ot' the 'cross-l bar M is formed a cross-head, N, which yis curved upon they arc of a circle, and has teeth formed upon its convex or outer side, into which mesh the teeth of a small gcar-wheel, O, attached'to the vertical rod or shaft P,

.which works in bearings attached to the case A D, and to its upper end is attached a handwheel, Q, so that the gates L can be readily adjusted to'regulate the escape of the water,

as may be desired.

With this construction, when the water is admitted through the chute E, it flows through theopenings f1, bein g guided by the ring-an ge f 3, enters the wedgeshaped recesses b2, and forces the buckets bloutward, as indicated by the arrows l, so that the `Water that enters through the openings f2 may strike against them, as indicated by arrows 2, and drive the wheel forward in the direction ofthe unmarked arrows. t As each bucket enters the enlargement of the case A the water flows past them and strikes against the rear sides ofthe flan ges or chutes G, and is thrown back against the forward side ot' the buckets., closing them beforeY curved slots fl in the partition-plate F, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. The partition-plate F, provided with the openings f1 and f2, and the ring-flange f3, in combination with the parts A D of the case, and with the wheel. B b1, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. The combination of the sliding plates or I gates L, the cross-arm M, the curved and toothed cross-head N, the gear-wheel O, and the shaft and han'dwheel P Q with the case A D, for regulating the size of the dischargeoritices ot' said case, substantially as herein shown and described.

FREDERICK w. TUERK, JR.

Witnesses:

J AMES T. GRAHAM,

T. B. MosHER. 

